We met Balaam before. He's that non-Jewish prophet hired by Balak, the King of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Only… it didn't quite work out that way, did it? Instead of curses, blessings kept tumbling out of his mouth.
Now, you might think that after such a spectacular failure (from Balak's perspective, anyway), Balaam would just pack his bags and head home. But no. God has other plans. As we read in Legends of the Jews, God appears to Balaam and says, “Go again unto Balak, and bless Israel.”
Can you imagine Balaam’s reaction? He really doesn't want to go back. He doesn't want to face Balak again, to disappoint him even more. But what choice does he have? God has compelled him. He has to go.
So, back he trudges to Balak. And the scene that greets him is… well, underwhelming. The first time around, Balak had been waiting with all his princes, eager to hear the curses that would destroy Israel. This time? According to Ginzberg's retelling, only a "few notables" are hanging around. The princes, disillusioned, had deserted their king. They'd had enough of the disappointment.
And Balak himself? He's not exactly rolling out the red carpet. Instead of a warm welcome, he greets Balaam with a mocking question: "What hath the Lord spoken?" There's a clear implication here: Balak thinks Balaam is just a puppet, unable to say what he wants, only what God wills. A pretty sharp observation, actually.
Think about it. Balaam’s in a terrible position. He's forced to deliver a message that neither he nor his client wants to hear. He’s lost credibility, and he’s facing ridicule. It’s a situation ripe with tension and, you know, a certain amount of darkly comedic irony.
What does Balaam do next? How does he respond to Balak's jab? What blessings will he utter this time? These are questions we will explore, to see what Balaam does when forced to follow a path he didn't choose. Because sometimes, the greatest stories are about those moments when we have to do what’s right, even when it’s the hardest thing to do.